Israel-Hamas War - What happened on day 61?

IDF Southern Command Chief Maj.-Gen. Yaron Finkleman on Wednesday said in a meeting in southern Gaza with his field commanders that the IDF is continuing to press forward with its invasion of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.

On Tuesday, the IDF revealed that its invasion of southern Gaza and Khan Yunis had started Sunday night.

According to the IDF, the top field commanders handling the Khan Yunis invasion presented Finkleman with the status of IDF and enemy forces within the city, the attacks already undertaken, and their future attack plans.

"The battle for Khan Yunis is a central priority. I am impressed that it is being carried out well: that we have a handle on all the details and that we are pressing forward," said Finkleman.

 Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu over the phone on Wednesday that it was important to minimize civilian casualties in the conflict with Hamas, the Japanese government said.

The Iran-backed Houthis have threatened ships in the Red Sea and Israel again on Wednesday, December 6.

The UK’s Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said that it had “received a report of an incident involving an Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) in the vicinity of position 1425N 04212E, 47nm west of port Hodeidah, Yemen.”

Hodeidah is an important port in Yemen.

According to Al-Arabiya, the reports led to warnings for ships transiting the area. “British maritime security company Ambrey also said on Wednesday it was aware of a drone incident in the same area and that it was investigating.

There were no further details about the reported incident, which follows a series of attacks in Middle Eastern waters since war broke out between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas on October 7,” Al-Arabiya said.

Newly recruited fighters who joined a Houthi military force intended to be sent to fight in support of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, march during a parade in Sanaa, Yemen December 2, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH)

An hour and a half after the UKMTO report, sirens sounded in Israel’s southern city of Eilat at around 13:11 due to a missile threat. The UKMTO report had been around 11:40 am. It is not clear if the two incidents are connected.

The IDF said, “Following the report regarding sirens that sounded in the city of Eilat, a launch of a surface-to-surface missile toward Israel was identified, and was successfully intercepted in the area of the Red Sea by the Arrow Aerial Defense System.”

The IDF added that the “target did not cross into Israeli territory, did not pose a threat to civilians, and the sirens that sounded were according to protocol.”

Additional incidents

The report by UKMTO follows another report on December 3 of multiple incidents near the Bab al-Mandeb straits.

At the time, US Central Command said that “there were four attacks against three separate commercial vessels operating in international waters in the southern Red Sea. These three vessels are connected to 14 separate nations. The Arleigh-Burke Class destroyer, USS CARNEY, responded to the distress calls from the ships and provided assistance.”

The Houthis have threatened shipping. In a statement this week, they also said that their attacks on ships are designed to target ships linked to Israel. They also claim this has had an impact on Israel.

The Houthi Al-Masirah media highlighted its anti-ship missile capabilities on December 6. Houthi media and US Central Command did not mention the December 6 incidents as of the time of this report. This is a developing story. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday for an important visit. He is meeting with the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Russian state media TASS said that “Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov said that the initial meeting will include the presidents’ respective delegations, and will be followed by talks between the two leaders in a one-on-one format.”

The reports from Moscow also said that Putin will then travel to Saudi Arabia and will meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. Putin visited both the UAE and Saudi Arabia in 2019. Gulf countries have taken a more modest approach to the Ukraine war than the West. While the West has been deeply supportive of Ukraine after the Russian invasion of 2022, many Gulf countries have sought to keep warm relations with Russia. Russia has also acquired Iranian drones.

Russia has close ties with Turkey and also backs the Syrian regime in Damascus. Russia has not condemned the Hamas attack on October 7 on Israel. Hamas released several hostages who hold dual Russia-Israeli citizenship as a gesture to Moscow.

A limousine carrying Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives at Qasr Al Watan, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates December 6, 2023, in this still image taken from video (credit: KREMLIN.RU/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)

Putin to discuss ongoing Israel-Hamas war

Putin will discuss the Israel-Palestinian conflict during his trip, reports from Al-Ain media said in the UAE. He will also discuss oil production and OPEC. “Foreign visits by the Russian President are generally rare in recent years, and his visits have been limited to countries, most of which are countries of the former Soviet Union, and his last visit to a country outside these countries was to China last October,” a report at Al-Ain said. According to the same report and the Russian Foreign Minister, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is also expected to arrive in the UAE on December 8 and then fly to Qatar.  Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said “from December 8-9, the Russian foreign minister will take part in the 14th Sir Bani Yas International Forum on Peace and Security in Abu Dhabi," the diplomat said at a news conference. "On December 10, he is scheduled to speak at the 21st Doha Forum in Qatar."

Russia is focusing on the “global south” at these meetings. Russia has relied on support from non-western countries during its war in Ukraine. "In his speeches, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will outline the Russian vision of trends in global development and will talk about how our country sees a new, fairer, democratic world order, free from neo-colonial influence. And the minister will pay special attention to the problem of Palestinian-Israeli settlement, of course, and security issues in the Middle East," Zakharova said, according to TASS.

This is an important visit. Russia has not condemned Hamas and appears to see the Hamas war against Israel as part of the global shift in priorities, meaning it will exploit that war as part of Moscow’s anti-western policy. Thus Hamas now benefits from being seen as fighting the Israel, and Israel is an ally of the US. Iran, which works with Russia, has exploited this concept as well, trying to use the Hamas attack to encourage a regional conflict with the US, using proxies in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen.

Putin appears to see this strategic shift as important for Russia. Russia wants to work with various groupings in the world, such as BRICS and the SCO, which China is a member of, to overturn the US-led world order. The Hamas attack on October 7 may be seen as part of that trend. Venezuela, an ally of Russia, Turkey and Iran, is also now preparing a war against Guyana, its neighbor. Therefore the Putin trip is important. Israel and the UAE have relations in the wake of the Abraham Accords. Before October 7 there were many reports about possible Israel-Saudi normalization. Now there are many uncertainties in the Middle East. 

The IDF engaged hundreds of Hamas terrorists and terror targets and discovered one of the largest weapons stockpiles ever found in the Gaza Strip over the past twenty-four hours the military said on Monday.

The IDF said that it had found one of the largest weapons stockpiles in the history of its operations in Gaza, an arsenal containing hundreds of missiles, launchers, long-range rockets, anti-tank missiles, UAVs, and explosives.

The massive weapons cache was located near a hospital and a school, the IDF reported.

The terror munitions were discovered by the 50th battalion of the 460th brigade. The IDF said that some of the munitions were detonated on site while others were sent for further investigation.

The IDF stated that all of the ordnance was found in the vicinity of densely populated civilian areas, citing the discovery as "further evidence of the cynical use that the Hamas terrorist organization makes of the residents of the Gaza Strip as human shields."

Also, over the last day, the Israel Air Force hit around 250 targets in Gaza, the IDF stated. Troops on the ground worked to locate weapons; Hamas infrastructure, including subterranean structures; and explosive devices.

Additionally, IDF troops directed an IAF strike on two Hamas rocket launchers which had been used to rain rockets down on central Israel on Tuesday.

IDF operates in central Gaza

Israeli troops also directed an airstrike in the Deir al-Balah area in central Gaza.

These airstrikes successfully eliminated both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists and destroyed a number of terrorist-controlled infrastructure.

Israeli troops also hit a terror cell conducting its operations next to a school in northern Gaza, the army said.

The IDF then proceeded to target a subterranean structure in the area of the school. In another local school, troops found more weapons and ammunition.

During operations in the West Bank Palestinian city of Jenin, the IDF, Shin Bet, and Border Police, demolished explosives manufacturing laboratories, destroyed underground shafts, located weapons and combat gear, and arrested terrorism suspects, the IDF said on Wednesday.

Overnight on Tuesday under the command of the Menashe Brigade, reservists from the Duvdevan commando unit, LOTAR special forces, and Border Police concluded their operational activity in Jenin.

The operations, which began earlier on Tuesday afternoon, successfully concluded with the arrest of ten suspects, the IDF stated.

West Bank terror tunnels

Additionally, the Israeli forces destroyed two underground tunnels as well as three facilities dedicated to the production of explosives. The facilities contained numerous explosives at the time the IDF, Border Police, and Shin Bet located and destroyed them.

The IDF added that it also confiscated weapons, disarmed explosive devices, ammunition, military equipment, and thousands of shekels in funds for terror activities.

Israeli security forces locate underground shafts in the West Bank city of Jenin. December 5, 2023. (credit: IDF)

Over the course of the activities in the Palestinian cities, terrorists engaged the Israeli forces, with the two sides exchanging fire, the IDF said. Additionally, the Israeli troops reported that explosives were thrown at them, and one soldier was lightly injured.

The injured soldier was quickly evacuated for medical treatment.

In other places in the West Bank, Israeli security forces arrested sixteen wanted individuals, three of whom were affiliated with Hamas. 

In Shuqba and Kalkilya, the Israeli forces located a handgun, drone, and ax were located.

The IDF also confirmed a hit on a target in Tammun after terrorists fired and threw explosives at the troops operating in the area.

In Halhoul the Israeli troops located a printing press used for printing inciting materials used to promote Hamas.

The arrested individuals and confiscated ordnance were subsequently transferred to relevant authorities.

United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk warned on Wednesday there was a heightened risk of atrocity crimes in Gaza, urging parties involved to refrain from committing such violations.

"My humanitarian colleagues have described the situation as apocalyptic. In these circumstances, there is a heightened risk of atrocity crimes," Turk told reporters in Geneva.

"Measures need to be taken urgently, both by the parties concerned and by all states, particularly those with influence, to prevent any such crimes."

Israel's Diaspora Affairs Ministry sent personal letters to about 20 European leaders, signed by Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, which included evidence of the terrorist activity of Hamas activists and operatives of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) in major cities across the continent.

"Weeks have passed since the barbarism that Hamas committed against infants, children, the elderly, and thousands of Israeli citizens. This is not the time for ambiguity. I want to clarify this unequivocally. Hamas has proven that their goal is to kill Jews everywhere," Chikli wrote.

"Since the massacre, calls for violence against Jews worldwide have increased by 120% - a shocking statistic. Unfortunately, Hamas's bloodlust is not limited to Israel and Jews but also extends to Europe and Christians. I want to remind you that in the past, Hamas members expressed the Islamic intention to conquer Europe."

The letters were sent to leaders in Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, the UK, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, Germany, and representatives of the European Union.

Demonstrators protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Duesseldorf, Germany, October 21, 2023 (credit: REUTERS/THILO SCHMUELGEN)

'Must be uprooted and eradicated'

"Hamas has been operating for many years worldwide, mainly through covert humanitarian donations," Tzur Bar-Oz, Head of the Research and Foreign Relations Division at the Diaspora Affairs Ministry stated. "It is a complex network of hatred operating in many countries, including Western and highly democratic ones. This phenomenon must be uprooted and eradicated as soon as possible. This activity has already yielded results and produced consequences."

In addition to the minister's personal appeal, the letters included evidence that vilifies the activists, including statements, posts praising Hamas's activity on social media, and more. The goal is to make these countries understand that it is a real threat and act to eliminate it.

Certain examples that were presented in the letters include, Mohammed Ahmed Hanon, an Italian resident, and head of the "Charity Association for Palestinian Support" (ABSPP) in Italy, which was part of the "Union of Good," designated illegal in Israel and the US (2008) for transferring funds to Hamas. In 2021, the accounts of the association were closed due to suspicious transactions. Photos of him with Hamas leaders, including Ismail Haniyeh, and receiving an honor from the organization's senior figure Ahmed Barhoum, were presented. Hannon also praised and glorified Hamas leaders and displayed Hamas flags on his Facebook page.

Another example is Amin Abu Rashad, who in 2023 was arrested on suspicion of transferring millions of euros from Europe to Hamas through seemingly charitable organizations. Evidence was presented to support terrorism and terrorists. Abu Rashad published a post praising the "hands" that carried out stabbing attacks in Jerusalem in the early wave of knife terrorism in October 2015.

Mohand Halabi, who murdered Nehemia Lavi and Aharon Bennett in Jerusalem and wounded Bennett's wife and 2-year-old son (October 2015).

Muhammad Suwala (Abu Obada), was a member of Hamas's military wing in the West Bank in the late 80s when the movement was established and a member of Hamas's political bureau from 2013-2017. Currently residing in the UK, Suwala played a key role in planning the Marjayoun ambush (2010). Declared by the Minister of Security (2013) as part of an illegal association while being part of Hamas. Sualeha expressed support for suicide bombings during the second intifada (2001).

NGO Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network was declared a terrorist organization as part of the PFLP in 2012. Its representatives operate in many European and North American countries, led by Khaled Barakat, a senior member of the PFLP, involved in establishing military cells and promoting terrorist activity in Israel and abroad. The formal goal is to assist Palestinian prisoners in their struggle to be released from prison, but in practice, it serves as a 'protective body' operating under the cover for the PFLP abroad.

"We hope that the leaders of the countries understand what Hamas is," Bar-Oz concluded. "And that these are extreme people who pose a threat to citizens worldwide, not just Jews and not just in Israel. We are already seeing a response from certain countries on the ground."

The IDF engaged targets in southern Lebanon, Israeli media reported on Wednesday morning.

This is an urgent call for action. pic.twitter.com/n9q5VbCPNd

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 6, 2023